PC AND NDP MPP’s call OPP TO INVESTIGATE “SLUSHGATE”
(Toronto) - Progressive Conservative and New Democratic MPP’s joined again today to call on OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino to launch a police investigation into a scandal involving more than $32 million in grants to multicultural groups by the McGuinty Liberal government.
Bob Runciman (MPP Leeds-Grenville), a former Solicitor General and Peter Kormos (MPP Welland), a former criminal defence lawyer, released a letter to Fantino requesting a police investigation into “financial misconduct” by political officials in the distribution of “highly questionable” grants made at the fiscal year end over the last two years.
Runciman and Kormos had earlier asked Attorney General Chris Bentley and his predecessor Michael Bryant to launch an investigation but Bryant ignored the request and Bentley sloughed it off.
In late July, Ontario’s Auditor General released a review of the decision-making process used in the distribution of grants. His findings and scathing criticism detailing the lack of control and transparency as the money was doled out, led to the resignation of Citizenship Minister Mike Colle.
“With today’s media revelation of a letter from the United Jewish Appeal’s Larry Tanenbaum, a prominent Liberal fundraiser, its clear that the decisions to shovel money out the door to friends involved more than Colle and reached right into the Premier’s office,” said Kormos.
“The Auditor’s report left a basketful of unanswered questions, many beyond the Auditor’s purview to investigate and some raising issues of criminality” asserted Runciman.
“The Auditor’s report was not an investigation of civil or criminal wrongdoing rather it was a quick and narrowly scoped review that confirmed financial misconduct” said Kormos. “We still have no answers for why the misconduct occurred and how these improper benefits were sought or bestowed.”
In calling for the police investigation the veteran MPPs’ argue, citing various sections of the Criminal Code, that criminal misconduct remains a potential explanation for the actions in question and the citizens of Ontario have a right to answers.
“The Auditor General did his job; Mr. Bryant and Mr. Bentley have declined to do theirs. Now it’s time for the OPP to get to the bottom of this” said Runciman.
